November 2023

 Every penny donated goes to the Venkat Trust. All UK costs are met by the Trustees

The 850 pupils standing in front of their Higher Secondary School and the new six-classroom extension

This picture brings a lump in my throat as it shows just how far we’ve come since our arrival in Kovalam 20 years ago. There are 850 pupils standing outside the Higher Secondary School and our spanking new, up-and-running extension of six classrooms is on the right of the photo.

Having extricated ourselves from the original joint plan with the Government for a 12-classroom building - their bureaucracy was preventing any progress being made - JR and Ali, by this time master builders, wasted no time in getting the light and airy building up and the happy students installed in their own classrooms. 

Before 2004 the only concession to education in the village was a near derelict primary school.  

How it all began – the Primary School children marking out the shape and size of the High School to come. It opened in 2013. 

In all, the Trust has put up eight buildings of varying shapes and sizes. They’re all dedicated to education for the children of Kovalam in one shape or another – and have a variety of uses: classrooms, science lab, library, language lab, offices, headteachers’ and staff rooms, Primary School dining hall, sponsored children’s meeting space, university students’ club room, snooker and more. If the floor space of all our buildings were put together they would occupy an area of 26,000 square feet, or nine tennis courts, over which thousands of children have now trod in their happy journey of education to a bright future.

A new headmaster has been with the school for the past few months. He is Mr Nakkeeran, a highly recommended person for the coveted job. He is proving to be an excellent choice.

I’m delighted to announce the appointment of two new Trustees, Natalie Lee and Julie Dean. They bring a wealth of experience in education and business and, very important, youth. They have both been sponsors for several years, have taken a keen interest in VMT and were among our guests at the supporters’ weekend in January. A big welcome to them both.

New trustees Natalie Lee and Julie Dean

Several of our sponsored students among the successful 12^th standard school leavers with above average marks have been accepted for imaginative degree courses which should bring them excellent career opportunities. Watchman’s son Gopal is studying for a degree in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science, labourer’s son Jaiganesh has chosen Cyber Security and fisherman’s daughter Keerthana is enjoying her course for a degree in Speech Language Therapy. Sankari, daughter of a cook, topped the Higher Secondary School’s final Government exams with an impressive 85%. She’s now in her first year at a prestigious law college and hopes to become a barrister.  

Our sporty students have been equally impressive.  Under the very keen training eye of our snooker coach Mr Prabu, Shalini, Suhana Begum and Anusha have all qualified for the upcoming National Snooker Tournament being held in December, by chance this year in Chennai.  It is a remarkable achievement for the girls who have been playing for only a couple of years and won their places against stiff competition. We wish them well against the country’s snooker clubs and private schools - I’m backing them for a good run.



Perhaps our girls’ cricket team will encourage other Government schools to follow suit. They’re on their own at the moment and, like the snooker, their competition can only be found among clubs and private schools. They’re doing well under captain Nanina. Just 14 years’ old she is a very fast fast bowler and opening bat, The PE Master, Mr Mohan, manages to bring out the best in all our sports-mad children, be it football, cricket, athletics, badminton or Indian games kabaddi and kho-kho. 

Above: the girls preparing for their debut on the national snooker stage. Below: our star turn, Nanina, ready for action with bat and ball.

Those of you who have been with us for several years may remember the Venkat Tuition Centre which was built on a strip of land we bought opposite the Primary School. In the early days, the two-storey building served us well for extra classroom space, the sponsored children and our office but when it became too small for our needs we built the Janakiraman Community Hall. We then turned it into two flats which were let and gave us some useful extra income.

Other than the Taj hotel on the outskirts of the village, the present standard of holiday accommodation in Kovalam is poor, maintenance not appearing to be a priority. Or, indeed, to get a look in. We have therefore decided to turn the now renamed Venkat House into two smart en-suite double bedrooms for holiday letting which will bring us a better income than as flats. There’s a sitting out area and we’re still going to keep the children’s swings and seesaw in the area leading up to the house. There will, of course, be a discount for any supporters visiting the village.

The huge consignment of brand new school furniture kindly sent to us by UK company eightspace is now being used in both schools, the University Club Room and our offices – and I pinched a couple of things for the trustees’ house. There was still plenty over which has been gratefully received by other schools in the area.



The desks and other furniture look very smart in all the classrooms in the new extension while the sofas, easy chairs, tables and grass cubes have added a very chic look to the University Club Room. Both the Kindergarten and the Primary School children love the alphabet rugs, identifying the objects as they jump from one square to another. Grateful thanks to eightspace.

I was wondering if any of you have any business involvement or personal relationship with appropriate trusts or foundations which might look kindly on an approach from us for funding? Just the mention of a name known to them can ease our way to a positive outcome. The fund-raising business is a hit and miss game and personal introductions have proved to be a definite help. Thanks for any suggestions you may have.  

Less than a year ago we stood on the bare roof of the Higher Secondary School planning a garden in memory of actress Gwyneth Powell, a wonderful supporter of the Trust.   Today it is a spectacular garden, its arched walkway bursting with flowers in the pots either side and around the bamboo arches. The children love it and are enjoying learning how to grow vegetables for their own families and the uses of medicinal plants. For a cool off – and it’s hot up there – there’s a delightful shaded area with comfy sofa and chairs to sit and think. Or just sit. 

Gwyneth’s voice-over on our video Goodbye poverty. It’s called education is a lovely reminder of her. (https://vimeo.com/607329522)

We are very grateful to our volunteers: Sandra Huggett for her admirable admin work and Astrid Hunton for the layout and circulation of our Newsletter.